The Riding of the Marches ceremony dates back centuries, and sees a huge parade of horses ride around town or city borders

While many place in the Lothians and Scottish Borders will have their own common riding events, Edinburgh's is particularly spectacular.

Around 300 horses are expected to trot up the Royal Mile towards the end of the procession.

The tradition dates back to the time of Border Reivers, when Scottish towns were harassed by outlaws, and it also has links to the nation's devastating defeat at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

As well as the main Riding of the March, there are a few other events taking place, here's what to look out for.

Flodden Wall Walk

The banner is carried through the city during the Flodden Wall Walk (Image: Facebook/ Edinburgh Riding of the Marches)

This takes place on Sunday, September 8, a week before the Riding.

Everyone is welcome to the event which starts at 8.45am at the Bore Stone on Morningside Road (EH10 4BY).

The organisation behind the Riding explains: "The walk was created to combine aspects of ceremony, history, a mark of respect, commradery, fun and exercise!

"The 2019 Edinburgh Captain Connor Geddes will carry the Edinburgh City Banner and a pouch of soil from Flodden ahead of the procession, with the walk passing through Bruntsfield Links and the Meadows and onwards towards the City Centre for approximately 1.5 miles."

Edinburgh Kirking Service

A service will take place just after the Flodden Wall Walk, where the Lord Provost formally hands over the city's banner to the Captain.

This is at 11am on Sunday, September 8 at Greyfriars Kirk.

This year's Edinburgh Captain is Connor Geddes and the Edinburgh Lass is Rose Hessell.

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Riding of the Marches

The main ride takes place on Sunday, September 15 and riders will be in the saddle at 9am.

It starts will a gallop around the city boundaries, however most spectators will want to see the later part known as the Civic Procession.

This will be on the Royal Mile in the afternoon, starting around 3.40pm. Hundreds of horses will parade up the historic street, along with many people from the city carrying banners.

Thousands of spectators are expected and the procession will be led by a pipe band, heading up the street from Holyrood. There will be a special area for spectators around the Mercat Cross opposite the city chambers.

What's the history behind it?

The Civic Procession ceremony re-creates the famous ride of Randolph Murray back to the city after the Battle of Flodden, where he bore the news that Scotland had been defeated and King James IV was dead.

It was devastating news for the country as thousands of young men had died.

The Riding was revived ten years ago and has been a yearly event ever since, though it did take place in 1946 to mark the end of the Second World War.

Edinburgh's first Common Riding was in 1579, part of a custom of defending common land against raiders.

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